Summary: itâs the twins birthday, Maisie realises something and has a massive argument with Soren.
Little fyi, Soren probably sounds like a right dick, their argument is no reflection of his character. He cares and feels deeply, but is just incapable of showing it. There argument is because Soren cares for Maisie, he is just terrible at expressing this and cannot get his points across in the right way and goes about it all wrong. If it helps with understanding him, his character is autistic coded.
It has been a couple weeks since Sisi tried talking to her mother about everything weird, deciding to drop the subject for the time being since the whole thing scared her a little. However, she's been getting excited since the weekend as her and her brothers birthday is coming up, unfortunately it lands on a school day, meaning her and Ajax have to wait till the weekend to celebrate. Poppy has invited them over, along with Maisie of course, to have a little birthday dinner.
They're trying to get through the school days as quickly as possible, not wanting to wait for the weekend. Although, Maisie's days have been a bit hectic as it's gotten close to their birthday. The stress of being a professor, making sure she's got all their presents sorted and has also been avoiding Sebastian - she's struggled to say the least. A few days back, she realised something that she really hoped would not happen - again...
Maisie looked at her calendar in her room as she's getting dressed ready for the day, it's Monday and she's checking her weekly schedule and trying to see where she can fit in going down to Hogsmeade and buying some things for her children's birthday. She looks at her calendar and furrows her eyebrows at it, flipping back to January and not seeing the the crosses that would mark about five days. She flips back to December and realises the last time she had a bleed was the beginning of that month. She hasn't bled in two months, which is very unusual for her.
"Oh Merlin-" she mutters under her breath when she looks down at her tummy, feeling a little stuck in place, fear trembling through her body. Sheâs trying to rationalise, think of any other possibility, but she knows, she just knows in her her gut that it is what sheâs dreading. She starts messaging the bottom of her belly, checking for it - and yep there's that solid bump, the same as the one she remembers feeling when she had gotten pregnant the first time with the twins. "Merlin's beard" she muttered to herself with a long sigh - not again...
At breakfast that morning she wouldn't look anywhere in the vicinity of Sebastian, too scared. Avoiding the look she knew would make her crumble into oblivion. And throughout that week, she continued to avoid him, if he tries to talk to her in the corridors she motions quickly like she has to be somewhere and moves along as fast as possible. She continues to avoid his worried stares at meal times and refuses to acknowledge his existence at the end of the day, refusing to share her chambers with him or go into his. She feels guilty about it all, but she's trying to figure out the best way to go about the situation, how to tell him - if she does - and how to tell her family and the twins and- Merlin's beard she is getting way too stressed over it.
On the Thursday of the twins birthday, after all their lessons are finished, they go to Maisie's classroom and Maisie gives them some small gifts and said that they would have to wait till the weekend for the rest. They of course tried to persuade more out of her but she refused with a smile, hugging her children and then making them run along to dinner as she followed suit.
The weekend comes along and Maisie's stress levels are through the rough, Soren and Poppy are going to know, they just will, and Maisie is going to be neck deep in trouble for it. She's so nervous, especially for how Soren will react. She doesn't want to deal with any of it, just have a lovely birthday for her children and pretend none of it is happening, avoid the problem altogether.
"It's lovely to see you" Poppy said as they all stepped out of the carriage, Poppy walking over with the brightest smile as she greeted all of them, turning to Maisie with a loving smile, and a kiss on the cheek in greeting. "How are you fairing?" She asked kindly as her and Maisie walked behind the twins who were running up to the house.
"Fine, why wouldn't I be?" Maisie chuckles nervously. It was an innocent question, Maisie shouldn't be getting anxious about it.
"Just checking" Poppy chuckles as she taps Maisie's shoulder, Maisie then putting the suitcase at the bottom of the stairs then bends down to take off her boots. Poppy walks off to the living room where everyone else is laid up and Maisie follows in behind. She walks in to see a few gifts from Poppy and Soren laid out on the coffee table. The twins looks at Maisie expectedly, but she only points to Poppy. "Of course you can open them" she smiles and the twins excitedly open their presents.
Before dinner, while the twins are upstairs playing with their cousins, she puts out more of the presents she got for the twins. It wasn't much, just some sweets like Berty Bots Every Flavour Beans and few others, along with some books the two had been asking for, a knew jumper for the both and then had something hidden away that Poppy had been hiding for over a week at her house for the two that had been wanting something like it for months now.
Maisie called them downstairs, they saw Maisie stood at the bottom of the stairs waiting patiently and they were confused as to why she had called them, it's not time for dinner yet? They slowly walked down, slightly worried. Then when they reached the bottom of the stairs, they looked into the living room and their faces lit up when they saw a small pile of presents for the each of them. They both gave a her a quick hug before running off to the living room, way too excited to stop for too long.
"Can we open them? Please?" Ajax asked with the biggest smile and puppy dog eyes, ones that reflected a man she really didn't want to be thinking of right now. Maisie just nodded with a wide smile. They both opened their presents with the biggest smiles before turning around and engulfing their mother in a very tight hug.
"Thank you so much" they both said as they pulled away with genuine smiles of appreciation. They both went to sit down and open their sweets or look through their new books but Maisie stopped them.
"Hang on- that's not everything" Maisie said with a big smile, so excited to give this last present to her children who only looked at her confused. The said confusion only increasing when Maisie walked out the room, the both trying to peer round the doorway, eyes widening when Maisie comes back.
"Oh Merlin! He's beautiful!" Sisi said slowly approaching Maisie who was holding a white fluffy cat. Both Ajax and Sisi reaching out to stroke the cat who gently lent into the affection. The two children's smiles not once fading.
"He's called Turnip" Maisie told them and the children barely even acknowledged this, too focused on the cat. Turnipâs previous owner was a friend of Maisie's in the village, unfortunately the lady who had him became ill and had sent Maisie and owl stating so and asked if Maisie wanted him for her children as she can't look after him anymore. As unfortunate the woman's illness was, it was perfect timing for her children's birthday.
"Come on Turnip" Sisi said as she took the cat from Maisie's grasp, stroking him and holding it close before handing him to Ajax to let him have a little cuddle.
"He's not allowed on the settee" Soren said from his spot on the sofa. The twins just nodded in acknowledgment before sitting on the floor and playing with Turnip, their smiles still so wide and happy, making Maisie feel warm and all things good. Poppy and Sorenâs children also joining in when they came downstairs, all carefully and gently stroking and playing with the cat.
Dinner comes around and they are all in their usual seats, Poppy offers Maisie some wine who shakes her head politely with a smile. Poppy looked at her confused at the unusual decline.
"Why not? You love a glass with dinner" Poppy laughed as she tried to pour some into Maisie's glass, Maisie just put her hand over it with a smile, again, politely declining the drink. It is a much more widely known thing among witches wizards that alcohol consumption while in Maisie's... 'predicament' is very much not widely suggested.
"I'll just have the lemon water" Maisie smiled, trying so hard to hide how nervous she is. Just as she said that, it was like a switch was flipped in Poppy and her eyes went wide as she looked at the woman before her.
"No- you can't be" Poppy said completely flabbergasted. Maisie's face also dropping in shock as Poppy realised. "But it was one time wasn't it? So unlikely I-" Poppy was talking until she realised Maisie's cringed face, how she almost squirmed at what Poppy was saying. "It wasn't just Christmas was it?" Poppy asked in a hushed tone almost exasperated and Maisie shook her head sheepishly.
"Don't tell Soren, please" Maisie begged quietly, luckily Soren was too busy talking to Ajax and Leo about birds on the opposite end of the table that he paid no attention to Maisie and Poppy's conversation.
"You take me as cruel" Poppy chuckled half offended and Maisie rolled her eyes with a light smile, still incredibly nervous. "What are you-" Poppy was going to continue but Maisie cut her off quickly.
"Can we continue this conversation later?" Maisie asked, not meaning to sound rude and Poppy nodded, happily obliging.
Light conversations continued around the table until Poppy and Maisie quickly went out to the kitchen to light the candles on the twins cake, that Poppy had kindly baked, and bring it out to them. They used magic to blow out all the candles in the room before they brought in the illuminated cake. Sisi and Ajax's eyes went wide with excitement, not being able to wait to blow out the candles and devour the cake. Everyone at the table was singing happy birthday in unison, Maisie putting the cake down gently in front of the twins as the singing came to an end. The twins were quick to the blow the candles out together with gleaming smiles, all the candles in the room flaming once again, simultaneously. Poppy made the candles disappear as she gave the twins the knife so they could cut themselves a piece of cake first. The cake was half gone by the end of the meal, everyone enjoying a large piece each.
When dinner was finished, all the children were quick to excuse themselves and go play with the cat, Turnip, although Maisie had to remind them not to overwhelm him and be careful and gentle. It was quite sweet though the way they would all just happily sit and watch the cat sleep, worried about waking him up.
The evening goes by and again the children are all sat by the fire with warm cocoas, snow still gently falling from the sky, winter still not wanting to be over in the middle of February. Poppy had put a dash of brandy in the hot chocolates again to make sure the children would sleep as the excitement from the birthday would probably keep them up longer than anyone would like, making for tired and grumpy children in the morning. Maisie was reading to them again. As much as the twins considered themselves 'too old' to be read to, they still enjoyed sitting down with their cousins at the end of the night and listening, however much they denied it. After a while, Leo had fallen asleep and the others were very sleepy so Poppy and Maisie got their children into bed, Soren too busy downstairs doing headmaster paperwork nonsense.
"So? You want to talk about it?" Poppy finally asked Maisie as they got downstairs and sat together in the living room. Maisie gave a confused look before realising and immediately looking away in shame.
"It's all very confusing" is all Maisie said and Poppy hummed in response, understanding what she means. Poppy flattens her lips while she thinks, unsure of whether to ask or not.
"You gonna tell him? Sebastian?" Poppy asks, deciding Maisie probably needs to talk about it anyway. Maisie looked at her and shrugged, then looked into her lap where she was playing with her hands. Maisie sits in silence, she was not expecting to ever have a conversation like this, not expecting to get pregnant⊠again. Poppy can tell Maisie is feeling conflicted in herself. "Talk to me Mais" she said as she put a hand on the other woman's knee reassuringly "like my grandmother said, a problem shared is a problem halved" she added with a smile and Maisie looked up at her, reciprocating the smile with one more sheepish and guilty.
"It's difficult, how do I tell him?" Maisie said and Poppy went to speak but Maisie was quick to interrupt "How do I tell Sisi and Ajax? How do I bloody tell Soren?" She whimpered, tears threatening to spill at just the idea of her brother rejecting her and her family again. She knows he loves the twins, but it doesn't change how he thinks of them and her, so stuck in his ways about it all.
"Soren is not your problem, okay?" Poppy reassured. Maisie knew that if he had a problem that Poppy would step in for her, but it doesn't change the fact that he would disagree and be mad about it.
"He will still be upset" Maisie said with a wobble to her voice, struggling to maintain her composure.
"And? It doesn't matter what he thinks, I will always be here for you, Maisie. I swear it" Poppy said as she grasped Maisie's hands in hers, holding them tight in comfort and reassurance. It does help Maisie to feel slightly better, knowing she will always have her oldest friend by her side.
"Oh Poppy, you are one of the best people in my life and I couldn't ask for any better sister-in-law. I love you so much, my friend" Maisie said as the tears started slipping past her guard, Poppy wiping them away and pulling her in for a long hug.
"I love you too, you're the sister I always wished for growing up" Poppy said with a smile as she pulled away, Maisie genuinely reciprocating it.
"What do i do about Sebastian?" Maisie asked, breaking the lovely moment they were sharing, her whole body slumping back into the sofa as she said it. Maisie closed her eyes as she did so, meaning she missed the way Poppy looked at her pityingly.
"I'm fairly certain that Sebastian will take the news better than you realise" Poppy said with a light smile and furrowed brows as Maisie opened her eyes only to narrow them at her from the side.
"I wish that were certain" Maisie said with a sigh, laying a hand on her tummy and looking down at it, not completely sure how she feels about the new growing baby now taking up residence in her tummy. She wants to feel hopeful so badly, but she can't help but feel like fate will not be on her side.
"Might as well be with how I know he feels about you" Poppy smiled, a smirk making its way onto her face as Maisie sat up and looked at her weirdly, not sure what to think or feel on that statement.
"And what of the twins, do I admit they are also his, or leave that for another day?" Maisie said practically laughing at how ridiculous this whole situation is. "How do I even tell them? What do I say first? Their dad is their Defence professor or that said professor got me pregnant" Maisie said, "again, might I include" she added feeling almost hysterical. It's all stupid, so so stupid.
"He did what?" Said a deep voice from the hallway and Maisie felt the hairs on her arms stand on end.
"Soren- it's not-" Maisie tried to save herself, maybe. To no avail as Soren walked in with a face so dark with anger.
"You've really gone and done it again huh?" Soren was basically laughing, his anger evident in his face and tone of voice.
"Soren, leave it" Poppy tried to interject, her voice wasted as Soren paid her no attention, completely focused on his anger with Maisie and a man not currently present.
"Is that man so incapable of restraining himself? Are you?!" His voice raised at octave, anger bubbling up with each word he said. Maisie was shaking, what does she do? What does she say?
"The children are sleeping-" Poppy tried to say, she doesn't want any shouting waking up the ones asleep upstairs. Again, Soren pays her no mind, he takes in what she says, but it is not obvious as he ignores her.
"Tell me Maisie, was two bastards not enough?" He was loud, his voice was heavy and stern, but he kept quiet enough as though to not wake anyone.
"You don't understand-" Maisie tried to speak but it's as if she is not allowed to defend herself, Soren already interjecting before she had time to finish her sentence.
"Understand-" he scoffs, mocking her "no I don't understand! I don't understand why you continue to whore yourself to that man, allow him to put bastards in you, but not a ring on your finger" he rants, arms flailing high above Maisie, never had she felt so small. By this point, tears were already streaming down her face, eyes red and bloodshot as she had strained so hard trying not to cry, failing miserably.
"Soren, that is enough!" Poppy yelled as she stepped in front of a sobbing Maisie. It took the man by surprise, eyebrows furrowing as he stared at her, trying to find the right words.
"Mummy?" Came a little voice from the hallway, little Leo having awoken from all the noise, something Poppy really did not want to happen. She ran over to her daughter who was stood on the stairs rubbing her tired eyes. She picked her up and looked at Maisie and Soren, Maisie trying so hard to maintain her tears while the little girl was around.
"Soren, leave her alone" Poppy said before walking up the stairs carrying her tired little girl.
"Why is everyone shouting?" Asked Leo as Poppy tucked the quilts in around her and got the girls favourite teddy bear off the floor that had clearly fallen out of the bed.
"Aunty Maisie and Daddy just aren't very happy right now, but it's okay, everything's alright" Poppy said so calmly and gently. Her daughter just nodded and hummed as she rolled onto her side, cuddling her bear close. "Goodnight, darling" Poppy said as she strokes the girls hair back and kissed her temple before leaving the room and carefully closing the door behind her. She tiptoes quickly to the stairs as sometimes the floorboards creak and she wants to try prevent as much more noise and keep the children asleep. However, more shouting echoes from downstairs and as Poppy is about to run downstairs to see if Maisie is okay, Sisi leaves her room, clearly sleep ridden and confused and she looks at poppy.
"What's going on?" she asks as she rubs her eyes awake, looking at Poppy and becoming worried at the expression Poppy bares, one also full of worry and concern.
"Go back to bed sweetheart" Poppy said with her soft and gentle voice, though Sisi did not, walking over to Poppy by the stairs. Poppy tried turning her around and guiding her back, but the younger girl became concerned over the words echoing from the living room downstairs.
âYou are no longer a child, Maisie!â Soren said with unyielding anger, his voice deep but not loud. âI was willing to turn a blind eye then- but now?! You are a lady, act like one!â He added, towering over Maisie who was now stood by the fire, the heat radiating towards her, keeping her warm while she coward away from her brother. She didnât know what to do or say, she just simply did nothing while he berated her.
âIâm not perfect like you, Soren! I never will be!â Maisie finally said, finding her voice as she tried to defend herself âIâm human, Iâm allowed to make mistakes!â She added, tears still streaming down her face as her voice broke while trying to get her point across.
âYou can make mistakes, you can be imperfect⊠but this? This is beyond any of that!â His words starts off calm, and slowly got angrier as he spoke âYou have children born out of wedlock, you are pregnant out of wedlock, you are a disgrace to our family!â he seethed. Maisie looked at him with wide eyes, hurt covering her features.
âSoren-â Maisie tried to add her piece, but the latter did not fault, did not let the woman get a word in.
âFather would be so disappointedâ Soren said with great disdain and that hit Maisie in a place that hurt beyond anything else.
âFather was a good man, you are far from that.â Maisie said as her lip trembled âDonât you dare use him against meâ she added angrily, with the flare of her nostrils, fists clenching at her sides.
âYou are a spoilt brat who refuses to learnâ Soren said with the roll of his eyes âSebastian does not care for you, stop entertaining the idea!â Soren added, trying not to shout. He believes the only reason Maisie keeps ending up in these situations is because Sebastian doesnât actually love her and is simply using her. It is far from the truth but he believes Maisie deserves far better than what she allows herself.
âYou donât know him like I do!â Maisie wanted so badly to yell and scream at him, push him and hit and tell him to stop being so cruel. Soren scoffs at her and her childish fantasies.
âYou bare his children but you do not bare his ring, that is enough for meâ Soren said in a bridled manner, clearly expressing his disdain through the clenching of his jaw and the flaring of his nostrils. He turned around, gathering himself a little, trying to calm down.
âYou are cruel!â Maisie yells at him before falling to her knees and sobbing into her hands, the words stinging her and ripping her apart. Why is he doing this?
âI speak truth!â Soren yelled as he turned to face her. âYou-â Soren went to go berate her further however was interrupted by another voice.
âMumma?â Said Sisi from the hallway, who had clearly got past Poppy and down the stairs to see her mum just crying on the floor. She walks over, past Soren who had stepped back and swallowed his words in presence of another child. âAre you okay?â Sisi asked as she bent down and put her hand on her mums shoulder.
âIâm okay, loveâ Maisie sniffed, trying to pull back her tears while her daughter was present, not wanting her to see her cry. âShouldnât you be in bed?â Maisie asked with a sobbed chuckle. Sisi just looked at her concerned, sheâs not going to ask about what she overheard, just worried for her mum right now.
âI came to make sure you were okayâ said the younger girl, making Maisieâs eyebrows furrow and chin wobble. Sheâs trying so hard not to cry in front of Sisi. âCome on, you need sleep tooâ Sisi said as she stood up and put her hand out for her mother. Maisie unwillingly took it, getting up off the floor and following her daughter upstairs. She kept her head down the entire time, too embarrassed and upset. Sisi took them to Maisieâs bedroom and lit a couple candles as Maisie just sat on the bed feeling a little numb, not quite knowing what to do with herself. Sisi got Maisieâs night dress out and gave it to her, helping the woman to remove her jumper and unzip her dress before Maisie got up and finished undressing and putting her nightdress on herself.
âIâm sorryâ Maisie sniffled as she rubbed away stray tears she couldnât hold back. âIâve ruined your birthdayâ she added with a crack in her voice, the pain trying to work its way out.
âDonât be silly, itâs not your faultâ Sisi said as she pulled the duvet back for her mum. Her mum sat on the bed cross-legged before looking up at Sisi with a sad expression.
âIs your brother okay?â She asked and Sisi nodded with a light smile as she walked towards the door.
âHe was awake with me, but was scared to check what was happening. Iâll go get him nowâ she said before quickly leaving the room to get her brother. She came back with a groggy Ajax who looked up at his mum worrisome. Maisie motioned for them to go to her and she enveloped them in tight embraces, not wanting to let go.
âIâm sorryâ Maisie said as she let out more quiet sobs as she looked at her children lovingly, they wiped her tears away gently. âI love you both so much, always remember thatâ Maisie said with a stern sincerity. Both children nodded quickly as they looked at her, repeating the words back to her, meaning it whole-heartedly. âCâmonâ Maisie said as she moved along the bed, Sisi next to her and then Ajax next to Sisi as they all led down. She put her arm across the both of them as they all slowly fell asleep together. Her children are the most important thing in the world to her, no matter what happens, they are her children and she will always love them.
